Medical aids

The HTA body of the Tuscany Regional Healthcare issues two types of documents: HTA forms and motivational forms. With a regional decree 554 of January 18, 2021, Tuscany Regional Healthcare has published assessments of eight medical devices of various therapeutic areas, including devices for the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, personal diabetes management system, endoscopic devices, and pedicle screw system.

On December 22, 2020, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health announced the changes that will occur to the Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre). The changes concern the general part of the Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre), and all four of its Annexes, which define the coverage of services (List of explicitly evaluated services, List of Medical Aids and Equipment, List of Analyses, List of Medications with Tariff). The updates will enter into force on January 1, 2021. Updates concern among others bariatric surgery, Autologous Chondrocyte Transplantation, ultrasound focused therapy for neurological indications.

In November 2020, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published one new interventional procedure guidance (for swallowable gastric balloon capsule for weight loss), five Medtech innovation briefings (for QuickChange Incontinence Wrap for urinary incontinence in men, Magseed for locating breast cancer lesions, Dexcom G6 for continuous glucose monitoring, and others). Also, one clinical guidance (for acute coronary syndromes) was updated.

The French National Authority for Health (HAS) released new decisions about add-on and medical aid reimbursement of many medical devices from the meetings of the National Commission for Evaluation of Medical Devices and Health Technologies (CNEDiMTS) in July 2020. Decisions concern drug-eluting coronary stents, TAVI, orthopedic appliances, wound dressing, stoma obturator, toric intraocular lens.

On the 28th of July 2020, in the Official Journal of French Republic (JORF), an Order for the inclusion of the web application MOOVCARE POUMON intended for the medical telemonitoring of relapses and complications in patients with non-progressive lung cancer in the French List of Products and Healthcare Services Qualifying for Reimbursement (LPPR) was published. The application is already included in the LPPR list in section 1, “Materials and treatments in the home, dietary products, items for dressings,” chapter 1, section 7, and a specific sub-section 7, which has been created for web applications and software for remote monitoring.

In July 2020, new subsidy options for medical aids care at home became available within the Dutch program Good use of care at home (GGH). By funding research, the GGH program stimulates knowledge development about the quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of innovative medical aids care at home. The deadline for submitting applications is 6 October 2020.

In March 2020, the Dutch Healthcare Institute advised the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport to simplify the reimbursement to diabetes care aids. In accordance with this advice, the Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring (RT-CGM) and ketone test strips will no longer fall under specialist medical care (MSZ) but will be covered by medical aid care (HMZ). The new scheme is intended to take effect on 1 January 2021.

The French High Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in June 2020 concern various types of devices, including total lumbar disc prostheses, arthroscopic meniscal repair system, vagus nerve stimulation system, and medical aids. A total of 10 decisions were made.

On June 23, 2020, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) announced several changes in the coverage of benefits that will take place soon. They regard transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), adjustments in the List of Aids (EMAp/MiGeL) (including reimbursement for CPAP devices and mechanical ventilation at home, and adjustments in the List of Analyses (AL/EA).

On May 27, 2020, the Federal Council adopted the modification of the Insurance Law (KVG/LAMal) on the reimbursement of medical aids and equipment. In the future, health insurers will have to bear the costs of the medical material regardless of whether it is used directly by the insured person, by a non-professional person, or by the nursing staff.

The French High Authority for Health (HAS) regularly publishes new decisions about add-on reimbursement for medical devices. The decisions made in May 2020 concern various types of devices, including cardiovascular devices (self-expanding intracranial stents, TAVI), CT navigation kit for CT-guided percutaneous interventions and medical aids. A total of 8 decisions were made.

On March 4, 2020, the List of Analyses (AL/EA) and the Services Ordinance (KLV/OPre) were updated in Switzerland. On April 1, 2020, the KLV/OPre, the AL/EA, and the List of Medical Aids (MiGel/EMAp) will be updated in Switzerland.